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Film reviews

Broker Review

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“His films embrace the mystery of life and encourage us to think about why we are here, and what makes us truly happy.”

-Roger Ebert

The words film critic Roger Ebert (1942-2013) used to describe Hirokazu Koreeda’s films hold true to this day. Koreeda is a director with a vision to have his films’ characters placed in situations impacted by society. His film Broker is a film of human feelings. Koreeda’s eye for artistic direction is thought-provoking. He tackles conflicts with society from a heartfelt perspective. Koreeda took audiences on a questionable and dazzling journey with Shoplifters (2018). He does so again with Broker which is a cinematic experience where love and sacrifice are looked upon deeply. The film has inevitable consequences, and it all comes down to the challenge of making the right choice.

Broker takes place in South Korea. The film introduces us to a mother named So-young (played by Ji-eun Lee). So-young carries her baby Woo-sung to a church to be adopted. She changes her mind when she realizes that an active group could try to sell her child. There are two guys who are part of the operation named Sang-hyeon and Dong-Soo (played by Song Kang-ho and Dong-won Gang). As So-young explains her difficult situation, the men realize they have a mission to help So-young find the right family for her child. This causes the group to flee with Woo-sung on a road trip. On this trip, their goal is to to find a family that can give Woo-sung a life that So-young cannot provide.

Two detectives discreetly follow them on their journey. The detectives are Soo-jin and Lee (played by Bae Doona and Lee Joo-young). On the road trip, So-young feels all kinds of guilt and frustration, but she also feels like a true mother the more time she spends with Sang-hyeon, Dong-Soo, and her baby. The most moving parts of Broker involve the realizations of how someone can change their life and how someone can help another person find a better life. Broker is deep and fascinating throughout its portrayal of a tough and emotional road trip.

As So-young tries to find a family to adopt her child, my feelings for herstarted to warm my heart. The writing in the film portrays that So-young is selective and difficult concerning who may adopt her child. What I realized is that she is not a bad mother, she just can’t take good care of her child at her current stage of life. However, that does not mean she will never be able to. The connections she makes with Sang-hyeon and Dong-Soo drive her to keep thinking of her options during their road trip. With the detectives on them, So-young begins to put her errors, her legalities, and benefits together. The hardest part is that regardless of what So-young does right for Woo-sung, she will still suffer consequences. Broker is about So-young being able to handle the mental anguish she may suffer, while at the same time knowing her child will be in a better place with food, safety, and care until she can pay for her errors.

I love films that create a dynamic that involves cultural challenges, and Broker does just that. The themes of tough love, life’s challenges, and new beginnings are where Broker finds its meaning. The message is found in the many drastic choices that come along in the film and the ultimate decision is in the hands of So-young. The detectives find themselves in a blur regarding how to handle the situation because there is nothing wrong with what Sang-Lyeon, Dong-Soo, and So-young are trying to do. They simply want to help So-young’s child live a fulfilling life.

In the scenery of the film, the audience will experience images of what may play out for So-young. As her mindset shifts during the road trip, she feels she is in good hands with Sang-Lyeon and Dong-Soo. They create a tight bond and love spending time together. In addition to the film’s goal of finding a new family for So-young’s child, the story also creates a wealth of positive vibes on this unexpected adventure the three of them find themselves on. Broker is a ride about making friends and uncovering realizations in unlikely places.

Broker dazzles its audience with a story about making choices. I love the thriving characters of the Sang-Lyeon, Dong-Soo, and So-young. The mission to help an infant find a life that cannot be fulfilled is displayed with the most poetic energy I have seen from Koreeda. Broker is breathtaking as it portrays a path of empathy and compassion in its character development and its writing.  The entire story is a beautiful one of humanistic value. Four stars for Broker.

Film reviews

Plane Review

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In Plane, Gerard Butler plays his typical tough guy with a macho attitude role, ready to take on any dangers. And he does shine at times in the film. But overall the film is a mess. It felt like a couple of episodes of the TV series Lost, mixed with the film Flight of the Phoenix (2004). Not my idea of an entertaining cinematic experience.

The plot of this below average action flick has Butler playing Brodie Torrance, the pilot of a passenger plane. His co-pilot is Dele, played by Yoson An. When their plane hits turbulence due to torrential weather they have to make an emergency landing, but they land on an island inhabited by warriors. The crew and passengers are in danger but one passenger, Louis Gaspare, played by Mike Colter, knows how to fight and survive. Louis is a criminal, but he just may become the hero.

Plane is much like other films starring Gerald Butler where there is peril, and he has to get people to safety. I was thinking back to some of his previous films such as Geostorm (2017) and Greenland(2020). Again, same theme as Plane—Butler protecting others and getting them to safety. Butler is generally excellent in these types of roles, and Plane does crank up the violence a notch, but the script is rushed and off balance, and it seems to go in circles. So as I’ve mentioned, my viewing experience with Plane was not rewarding.

One of the problems with Plane is that it starts with a mediocre foundation and goes right into danger zone moments, so the suspense factor was just not there. The shooting scenes were somewhat invigorating, as was the plane crash sequence. But where is the film going? Down a rabbit hole of a poor cinema, in my opinion.

Is Plane a captivating title? Maybe. Is the plot at least is attention-grabbing? Yes. Is the film entertaining? Not really. Will Plane feel the same as other Butler action thrillers? Yes, it will feel the same, because the truth is that it is the same as his previous projects. I really did try to remain positive with this review, but I couldn’t. I just found the film shallow and boring. Just two stars for Plane.

Film reviews

A Man Called Otto review

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A Man Called Otto is an emotional and enthralling journey from director Marc Forster. The film is a remake of A Man Called Ove (2015), which is based on the book of the same name published in 2012 by Fredrik Backman. I saw A Man Called Ove in the fall of 2016 and I loved it. A Man Called Otto has a melancholy, loneliness vibe at its core, but it has moments of joy and happiness and it is very endearing. It’s a film where love and disconnect finds meaning.

A Man Called Otto introduces its audience to Otto Anderson, played by Tom Hanks. Otto is a grouchy widower, and he spends his days getting mad at people for various reasons. He gets annoyed with how people park outside his apartment, he gets mad at store clerks. Otto is a by the book kind of guy. If someone doesn’t follows the rules of Otto’s world, then all bets are off with his attitude.

Tom Hanks’ portrayal of a widower and angry man is stellar, and he really makes us feel his moments of sadness. When Otto visits his wife’s grave and talks to her, his feelings seem so real as he vents and says to her, “Nothing works when you’re not home.”

Otto meets a new neighbor, Marisol, played by Mariana Trevino, and he begins helping her and her family adjust to their new home and the neighborhood. Despite Otto’s ongoing grief, his friendship with Marisol starts to change his life. He still gets annoyed, but his good heart shows. He teaches Marisol how to drive and he helps with her kids, but he also reminds her that the world and life is not the easiest place in the world.

As Otto begins changing, he is still depressed at times when he remembers his wife. The film weaves us through the good and bad times of Otto’s life. Otto’s journey paints a picture of how it feel to be alone. We have compassion for Otto when he does good deeds for Marisol. Otto is only human, and he knows right from wrong, but he struggles to realize how his attitude impacts others.

A Man Called Otto has a lot of the same themes as its predecessor. But A Man Called Ove took place in Sweden, like the book, and A Man Called Otto takes place in the United States. Even though I think I liked the original film more, I have much appreciation for A Man Called Otto. Tom Hanks brings a level of respect and empathy for his character, and he delivers a poetic performance.

When we begin to see Otto finding light amongst his turmoil, it is encouraging. But how much can Otto improve his attitude? Will he continue to choose suffering, or will he actually find happiness again? What does Otto’s future hold? Find out in A Man Called Otto. Three and a half stars.